A Fruity Twist On A Childhood Favorite

Do any of you remember the JELL-O Pudding Pops from the 80s? I loved those as a kid because the camp my dad ran procured them by the crate. I used to slip into the walk-in cooler for a pudding pop whenever the fancy struck. Less present, but equally loved, were the JELL-O Gelatin Pops.

Fruity, icy, and no drip, the pops seemed almost like they were whipped before they were frozen. I got it in my head the other day that I wanted these and since they're no longer on the market, I made my own! I busted out my KNOX Unflavored Gelatine a bottle of Cran-Raspberry Juice, a wee bit of sugar, and my trusty stand mixer and Vie-Oh-Lee! We had Whipped Fruit Ice Pops. Super smart snacking for summer, I'd say, wouldn't you?

They're a little crazy looking, but I can explain! I wanted my ice pops to have the same consistency that I remembered so I made classic KNOX Unflavored Gelatine blocks, chilled 'em until they were as firm as they should be, cut the stuff into small cubes, then beat the tar out of it all with my stand mixer. It got fluffy and airy and looked a little like I had whipped cream into it. That was fun and a little gross looking, honestly, but it made filling the ice pop molds evenly a bit of a challenge. It doesn't affect the overall ability of the stuff (technical term) to freeze together coherently, but it looks a little irregular. I think it lends to the charm.

If you're anxious to make some of this and don't have ice pop molds, or if you want to be a bit more sophisticated and grown up about the whole thing, you could always scrape the whipped gelatin into a non-stick spritzed 9- by 13-inch baking dish and cover the lot with plastic wrap before freezing. After it's solid, use a spatula to pry it out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Slice into small squares or punch into small circles with a round cookie cutter. Top it with berries and serve that like you're Madame Fancy-Pants.

When it’s not Dr. Seuss-y looking on a stick, it’s surprisingly sophisticated. Gelatin WAS the dessert of kings and queens for ages, after all. This is a no-bake dessert that’ll keep everyone happy (including the cook!) This would be fantastic for the 4th of July! Do you need more no-bake desserts and sides? Be sure to check out Recipes by KraftRecipes.com for some fun summer help and more smart snacking ideas!

Airy, fruity and refreshing, these Whipped Fruit Ice Pops are made from three simple ingredients. If you're feeling more sophisticated than popsicles, though, you can freeze the mixture in a pan, cut shapes from it, and serve topped with fresh berries!

Directions
Pour 1 cup of the fruit juice into a heat-proof 2 quart dish. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let it sit, undisturbed, for 1 minute.

Stir the remaining juice and sugar or honey together in a heavy pan over medium heat until the sugar is fully dissolved and the juice is simmering. Pour the hot juice over the gelatin in the bowl and whisk gently until the gelatin is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Spritz a cake pan with non-stick cooking spray, pour the hot juice mixture into the pan and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.

Cut the firm gelatin into small cubes and scrape them into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or into a sturdy, large mixing bowl (if using a hand-mixer). Slowly start beating the gelatin (because little bits will want to jump out of the bowl and fly everywhere if you start on high speed) and work your way up to high speed. Beat the gelatin until it has been broken up into very small bits and looks almost creamy. This will take about 15 minutes.

If Making Ice Pops:
Lightly spritz the insides of ice pop molds or paper cups with non-stick cooking spray to make them easier to remove once frozen. Use two spoons to fill the ice pop molds. Drop the sticks into the center of each mold or cup and freeze until solid. These are good for up to a month in the freezer.

If Making Whipped Fruit Gelatin to Serve on Plates:
Lightly spritz a 9- by 13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Scrape the whipped gelatin into the prepared pan and use a silicone or rubber spatula to evenly distribute it and smooth the surface. Lay plastic wrap directly on the surface of the gelatin and freeze until solid, about 5 hours. Remove the plastic wrap and use a spatula to pry the frozen slab of whipped gelatin out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares or a round cutter to punch out circles. Serve immediately topped with fresh berries.